Dust Filter -> Front Case Fan

[Lord Prism]

Hi,
I've Dremel-ed out a blow-hole into the front of my case and mounted a fan to blow air in. What I've discovered is that my living room is using this case as a Dust Trap!!!

I've avoided a dust filter of any kind because I don't want to restrict the AIRFLOW coming into the case - I'm overclocking and have great air movement right now.

Here's the question:
What's an ok dust filter that restricts the LEAST amount of air flow?

TIA

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Lord Prism Here's the question: What's an ok dust filter that restricts the LEAST amount of air flow?

I think any filter is going to restrict some airflow no matter what...and as the dust collects on the filter, the airflow restriction will get higher and higher. I would avoid any type of paper filter, that's for sure. I've used the aluminum screen type of filter before and they seem to work okay, but for best results you gotta clean the filter very often.

Cricket

[i3OSS]

Is your computer on the floor? if so, try placing the computer in a more elevated area, its helped me with dust problems

[ComPman]

yeah i got a front fan too. one day i found A MOSQUITO in there. Can i get filter from homedepot, walmart. Any of those place carry them??

[Designer]

We often install industrial computers at work, they have filtered fans, filters can be obtained from rswww.com (UK company) but you can get an idea of what you want. Plastic gauzz often works well.

[Lord Prism]

Thanks for the replys.

I suppose I could go to the local Home Depot and look around for a filter. which will allow more air to flow thru, a 120mm or 60mm?
THanks,

[Cricket]

60mm Fan Filter.

120mm Fan Filter.

If you do check Home Depot, stay away from the paper filters...look for the aluminum mesh or screen type. Window screening would work.

Cricket

[Lord Prism]

Cricket, you are THE MAN

regards,

[Redfallon]

Would have to be fine screen to keep out dust wouldn't it? I had a fan cover on a case made of the metal mesh that some speaker grills are made of, and i think it was finer than window screening, it didn't do much at keeping out dust

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Redfallon Would have to be fine screen to keep out dust wouldn't it? I had a fan cover on a case made of the metal mesh that some speaker grills are made of, and i think it was finer than window screening, it didn't do much at keeping out dust

Maybe nylons (pantyhose) stretched over the port would work. All I know is if the filter is fine enough to catch dust, you're going to have really poor airflow through it...especially after it starts to clog up.

I don't bother with filters anymore...I just blow the computers out with a vacuum cleaner.

Cricket

[Redfallon]

yep, I don't use em either (took that grill stuff off!) wasn't disagreeing with you, just asking if you'd used it and how it worked, sorry cricket

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Redfallon wasn't disagreeing with you, just asking if you'd used it and how it worked, sorry cricket

Nah, don't worry...I didn't take it that way. It's just that I went through my "lotsa fans and filter" stage years ago and got tired of the fan noise and having to brush the filters off every week. So instead of going for maximum fan-nage (one of my computers had 17 fans in it at one time...now it has just 2; rear exhaust and power supply. No video card fan because it's just a Matrox G200), I now build with the idea of keeping the system as quiet as possible. And since I use a minimum amount of fans now, I notice the interior of my computers take longer to get to the point where I feel they have to be cleaned out.

Cricket

[vrapp]

In Home Depot or Ace Hardware buy furnace air filter for $1-2
remove the front panel of the chassis
cut a piece of the mesh from the filter so it covers the intake openings
put it on the front metal of the case, fasten with tape if needed, then replace the front panel.